Policy roundtable discussion identifies barriers to attainable housing in PA

Contributing factors include rising cost of housing, lack of housing availability

Rep. Jim Prokopiak September 9, 2025 | 12:35 PM

MORRISVILLE, Sept. 9 – The rising cost of housing, coupled with a lack of availability for affordable homes, is leaving families across Pennsylvania struggling to put a roof over their heads. Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D-Bucks) hosted the House Majority Policy Committee on Tuesday for a roundtable discussion to identify barriers to attainable housing in Pennsylvania and ways lawmakers can help remove those barriers.

“These communities in Bucks County were built for working-class people, and for decades it stayed that way. But since 2017, rent has gone up in our region by 50 percent,” said Prokopiak. “It affects our police departments, our schools and our entire community. We need to find ways to lower the cost of housing and make the American dream more attainable for everyone.”

Testifiers at Tuesday’s roundtable identified several barriers to attainable housing in Pennsylvania, including the cost of housing outpacing livable wages, a housing supply that’s not keeping up with demand and restrictive zoning laws with prolonged permitting processes that slow down or upend new housing projects. In fact, Pennsylvania ranks 44^th in the nation for new housing construction, due mainly to stringent zoning regulations.

Families facing unstable housing conditions are more likely to experience food insecurity, educational disruptions, health crises and job loss.

“By investing in attainable housing now, Pennsylvania can reduce long-term expenditures and build stronger, healthier communities. Stable housing allows families to work, children to succeed in school, and local businesses to thrive, creating a stronger workforce and more resilient communities for decades to come,” said Correne Kristiansen, Advocacy Coordinator for the Bucks-Mont Collaborative.

To help address some of these issues, Prokopiak has introduced several bills, including legislation to develop moderate-income housing opportunities, stabilize rent prices, and increase affordable housing availability. Testifiers say together, these initiatives would increase the local housing supply, stabilize families in their homes, and make it easier for developers to create new affordable and attainable units.

Additionally, lawmakers heard testimony about the importance of easing strict zoning regulations and approvals, which can unlock development potential and lower costs for builders and buyers alike. This could increase the housing supply while bringing prices and rent down, ultimately allowing more families to attain housing.

“Access to safe, attainable housing is undoubtedly a human right, not a privilege. We need to break down the systemic barriers that prevent families and residents from finding a place to call home,” said House Majority Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie). “Expanding attainable housing can strengthen communities and fuel our economies. It isn’t just good policy— it can help us build a stronger and more equitable future for our commonwealth.”

Testifiers participating in Tuesday’s roundtable include Donald Grandahl, Executive Director of the Bucks County Housing Authority; Correne Kristiansen, Advocacy Coordinator for the Bucks-Mont Collaborative; Dawn Diamond, President of Woods System of Care; Joseph Phillips, Board President of the American Institute of Architects of Bucks County; Anne Costello, a local realtor and member of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors; and Mo Rushdy, President of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia. Testimony submitted for Tuesday’s roundtable can be found here.